The FA Premier League (PL) starts today with Champions Arsenal v Coventry City newly promoted from the EFL Championship under old Blues favourite Frank Lampard. Arsenal swept all before them, even Manchester City, and won 32 of their 85 points in Premier London Derbies (PLDs) matches. They stumbled at the last in the UEFA Champions League Final against overwhelming PSG (Paris Saint Germain). The Gunners will have success in every competition at the top of their wish-list.
The first PLDs match of the 2026-27 Season is on Saturday 22 August 2026 when it’s Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur. These Clubs fortunes could not have been more different last season. The Bees finished 9th in the PL and only missed out on European football on goal difference. Spurs stayed in the PL by 2 points (17th with 41) perhaps those won against relegated West Ham United (18th with 39). Brentford will hope to consolidate last season’s form, and Spurs, who start with the Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi, who was their third of last season, must improve or face the unthinkable.
Chelsea who underperformed last term (10th with 52) must also improve. They continue to spend lavishly with £117 million on Morgan Rogers and £52 million on defender Maxence Lacroix. Will they recoup the £120 million they want for Argentinian Enzo Fernandes? He has been booed already by his own fans. Was it because he wants to leave Stamford Bridge or because of his FIFA World Cup Final fouls and sending-off?
The defender Lacroix was bought from Crystal Palace. Yet another star stripped from their unsung team who won the UEFA Conference League Final 1-0 v Raya Valecano in Leipzig on 27 May 2026. They were 15th with 45 points in the PL and without Oliver Glasner as Head Coach may struggle this coming season.
That leaves Fulham FC to complete our 6 Clubs for this season’s PLDs mini-league. The Cottagers were 3rd in last season’s PLDs table taking 15 of their 52 PL points from fellow London Clubs. They had a chance of European football but their form faded badly n the last 5 games and they may also struggle this term unless they have a good start.
Off we go and enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs. (premierlondonderbies.com).